We exploit an ocean resource (whether animal, plant or other) when we profit from it so that we can improve our living conditions. Sustainable exploitation is that which satisfies the needs of the present without compromising those of the future generation.
About 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed with no possible recovery. About 24% of the remaining reefs are threatened with extinction in the short-term due to human activity and 26% are threatened with extinction in the long term. Oceans cover three quarters of the Earth’s surface, contain 97% of the Earth’s water, and represent 99% of the living space on the planet by volume. Oceans contain 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the millions, many still waiting to be discovered.
Why Education is crucial to achieving SDG-14
Ocean education is enhanced through scientific cooperation and knowledge at all levels, through the development of research capacity and through the transfer of marine technology. (Access to Learning objectives for SDG-14)
At this level, children learn what an ocean is and the creatures that live in it. They may learn how to swim and be confident in the ocean environment, thereby enhancing their awareness and appreciation of oceans and marine life, and respecting and taking care of the ocean environment and nature. (Access Educational materials here)
Learners at this stage are introduced to ocean zones, and marine plants and animals, including their habitats and behaviours. They learn to apply critical thinking skills to investigate threatened or endangered species and may conduct surveys or interviews with fishermen and fish processors to develop potential solutions to the challenges faced, thus developing their self-awareness and bringing about behavioural change towards more sustainable practices during daily life. (Access Educational materials here)
Students see their understanding of the sustainable management of oceans, seas and marine resources enhanced. They learn to apply critical thinking skills to conduct research into realworld challenges for the sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources, including primary and secondary research methods, and they develop practical solutions to these challenges. This will lead them to introduce sustainable ocean practices into their daily lives, while encouraging others in their immediate environment to do the same. (Access Educational materials here)
Pedagogical Resources
- The Shark Fin Soup - A comic adventure on climate change
Ideas for Classroom Activities
- Finn The Fortunate Tiger Shark’s Workshop - This workshop outline on how we can protect our oceans is designed for children aged between 4 and 8.
- Habitat Game - This resource simulates the effect on biodiversity as population increases.
Multimedia Educational Resources
Get Inspired
- Learning to protect the marinas- Foundation for Environmental Education - Children learn about the particularities of the marina environment and common activities that can be performed in marinas and schools or kindergartens, e.g. energy savings and green energy use, water saving, proper refuse/waste disposal and separation, use of eco-paints, and the importance of sensitive natural areas.
Pedagogical Resources
- Annie Sunbeam And Friends - Protecting Life Below Water - A special adventure to support action on protecting Life Below Water.
- Bush Telegraph - Biodiversity - This booklet explains the relevance of biodiversity to human life.
- Enabling Ecoaction - This handbook is ideal for anyone working with the public on conservation.
Ideas for Classroom Activities
- Clean Water For All - This resource aims to:
- Define water pollution;
- State or outline some of the causes of water pollution;
- Describe the global inequality of access to clean water.
- Life Below Water – Marine Litter - This resource aims to:
- Explore and understand the threats of plastic waste to our oceans;
- Generate and explore ideas on how to better control discarded trash from entering our oceans.
Multimedia Educational Resources
- Not Another Nature Film - Findings in WWF's 2010 Living Planet Report.
- A To Do List For The Planet - Goal 14 Life Below Water - This comic poster presents the meaning of SDG 14 and why citizens must engage in efforts to protect life below water.
Get Inspired
- Children raising awareness about the need to protect marine mammals - The “Home of Marine Mammals” activity is organized by the Pronatura Association and consists of two parts. First, during the workshop, the children learn what kind of marine mammals live on the beach and why it is important to protect them. They speak about marine conservation and also discuss why it is necessary to keep the beach clean. How can each of us help to protect marine mammals? During the second part, children are divided into groups and walk around the beach, wearing a tee-shirt that identifies them. They ask beach users if they know the different kinds of marine mammals, showing them photos and drawings, and explain why is it important to protect them and keep the beach clean. Afterwards children give them paper bags to collect their trash.
Pedagogical Resources
- Life Below Water: Why It Matters - Technical Note presenting SDG 14, what the goal is, what the problem is, what would it cost to correct it and what can we do.
- The Youth Guide To The Ocean - This Youth Guide to the Ocean illustrates many of the wonders of the ocean, what it does for us and what we are doing to it. It also describes what is being done at the national and international level to protect the ocean.
Ideas for Classroom Activities
- Protect Life Below Water - This resource aims to:
- Develop knowledge of threats to the ocean;
- Explore ideas of how to use the ocean sustainably.
- The Ocean Challenge Badge - The Ocean Challenge Badge is packed with activities to help you learn about how the ocean works, the creatures that live in it, and just how important it is in our everyday lives.
Multimedia Educational Resources
- Trinidad: Saving The Turtles - They are among the oldest creatures in the world and they only rarely venture out of the sea. But when they do, they are especially vulnerable – and it takes an unusual combination of people and nature to protect them.
- The Ocean Conference: Increasing Marine Scientific Knowledge - Proceedings of the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Get Inspired
- Bonnes Pratiques EDD du Programme Plages Propres- Fondation Mohamed pour l'environment. - L’objectif du présent recueil est d’offrir une synthèse des actions d’éducation à l’environnement menées en vue de favoriser l’émergence d’un comportement quasi instinctif vis-à-vis de l’environnement. Il est un outil à destination des institutionnels marocains et des acteurs locaux (municipalités, associations, partenaires économiques) désireux d’améliorer les actions d’éducation et de sensibilisation autour de la protection environnementale des plages et du littoral marocain.
